Page 143 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

Govek’s brow furrowed, his head tipped.

“You think Miranda would want to be mated to a male who promoted this torture? Does she know that I have been denied real food? That I’m forced to relieve myself while bound? Does she know you want the male who sacrificed so much and worked so hard to raise you to suffer so horribly for only a few simple mistakes?”

Ergoth certainly could smell Miranda outside the tent, but Govek could scent her too. Her sweet honey and strength. He breathed deep, holding that courage in his lungs as Ergoth’s words continued to roll over him.

“She will leave you for this. What woman wouldn’t? But perhaps if you offer a reprieve, she might not be convinced you are a complete monster. Perhaps she could find it in her heart to forgive these vile acts if you allow me a final say in my own fate. If you do the right thing and give me a fair judgment, which I should have had already instead of being forced to sit here in the muck.”

“You think the clan would side with you?” Govek asked, no longer shocked by Ergoth’s delusion. “After everything you’ve done? Even Maythra has turned her back on you. We offered her and the other two a reprieve from the silencing in exchange for the full truth, and she took it without a moment of thought. She told us you incited her to attack Miranda. Said that you swore you would protect her no matter the outcome, but you didn’t uphold your vow.”

“She’s a wretch and a liar,” Ergoth spat. “She’d say whatever she needed to get out of her rightful punishment.”

“Her punishment for attacking Miranda or for betraying you?”

Ergoth’s face contorted into a glower that revealed the truth.

“You’ve never done anything for anyone in this clan unless it benefited you. You manipulated us all.”

“I made you all. They will see that in time. They would be nothing without my guidance. They would have nothing if I had not been there to steer their hands through these gruesome times. I alone have been the one capable of preventing horrors from descending upon this fair clan.

“Your mother would be sick to see what you’ve done,” Ergoth spat. “To see you punish the only male that ever cared about you. To see you torture the great leader that led this clan to glory. The moment you rid me of my rightful place in this clan, the Fades will abandon it. But it’s not too late, Govek. It’s not too late to change your mind. To set me free. I demand you look into yourself and see what is right.”

Ergoth finally broke off, panting. Eyes wild.

And Govek felt nothing but amusement.

Govek said with a shrug, “Is that all?”

Ergoth’s mouth slacked, his rows of sharp teeth, the same as Govek’s, just more easily hidden, finally on full display.

“All these years, I’ve let your lies consume me. But that’s all they are, aren’t they? You worked so hard to trap me inside them. To keep me in your clutch. To control me, just as you have controlled everyone in this clan.”

“The clan followed me because I am the best ruler they have ever had. I have led this clan to glory.”

“Perhaps. In some ways, you have brought glory to this clan. Your accomplishments here are vast. You created the vote and proper judgments. You increased the trade with Oakwall. Food production has been incredible, and the forest is thriving through organized communions you orchestrated.” Govek met Ergoth’s gaze. “But no one is going to remember that you started any of it.”

“Of course, they will! It is in the historical scrolls for all to see. I’ve had birds sent to every clan outlining my practices so their scribes could?—”

“I am going to have them removed.”

Ergoth went pale. “What did you say?”

“That is your punishment, Ergoth, what I have decided for you. The scrolls outlining all of your good deeds will be burned and every vile corruption you have orchestrated within this clan will be outlined for all to see. The binding that was little more than torture, the silencing that you used to cover your tracks, the clearing that warped our minds, all the lies you spread. Only that will be attributed to your name.”

“You can’t do that.” Ergoth’s voice shook. His eyes were wide. “You cannot just rewrite history.”

“It’s already being done. Sythcol is performing the task now with his conjurers. Birds are being sent to the other clans.” Govek got close, looked into Ergoth’s eyes. “And you will soon be dragged around the continent to each and every one of them. You will be forced to listen while Karthoc speaks the truth of what you have done here in Rove Wood Clan to every orc who will listen. It will be written down in their clan histories. It will be sent in scrolls with Evythiken as he travels across the mountains to the overlord. And there, in the overlord’s great keep, with the entire history of our race, your crimes will remain, painting you the vile monster you tried to make me.

“The image you worked to create is gone, Ergoth of Rove Wood. And not one being in all of Faeda will ever believe your lies again. That is why I allowed you to keep your tongue. That is why you will not have a magical silencing. Not because of mercy, but because it will be far more torturous for you to be able to scream, and wail, and lament and have all ears turn away from you, see through you. They will hear you and be unaffected. Uncaring. Just as I am now.”

Ergoth’s body shuddered as if racked by fever. His mouth gaped.

His voice was gone.

Govek got to his feet. “The power you once held over me is broken. The monster you thought you turned me into has only made me strong. Strong enough to fight you and win.”

“No,” Ergoth managed. “No, you aren’t.

“This is my final goodbye.” Govek truly felt this to the very depths of himself. “And know that I will never think on you. You will never haunt my mind. I am going to thrive with my mate. And once I leave this tent, you will never occupy my thoughts again.”

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